Unification Church loses suit against British paper

April 1, 1981

By WITH ANALYSIS FROM MONITOR CORRESPONDENTS AROUND THE WORLD

EDITED BY HILARY DEVRIES

London

The Unification Church, a religious sect commonly known as the Moonies, lost the longest and most expensive libel suit in English legal history and was ordered to pay costs estimated at more than $1.5 million. Dennis Orme, leader of the Church in Britain, claimed damages against the London Daily Mail for an article in 1978 which accused the church of brainwashingg converts and breaking up families. The jury, after six months of evidence from more than 100 witnesses, decided unanimously that the Daily Mail was justified in its accu sations.